ACH vs. wire transfer: what's the difference?
Both move money bank-to-bank — but speed, cost and reversibility make them very different tools.
ACH and wires both move money between bank accounts, but they behave differently enough that choosing the wrong one is a real cost. Here's the practical difference.
Speed
ACH settles in batches over one to two business days (or same-day if it makes the window). A wire settles the same day, usually within hours, and is final on receipt.
Cost
ACH is cheap — cents per transaction. Wires cost dollars, often $15–$30 each. For high-volume, low-value payouts, ACH wins decisively; for a single high-value, time-critical movement, a wire earns its fee.
Reversibility
ACH can be returned days later (insufficient funds, closed account). A wire is effectively irrevocable once sent — which is exactly why wires carry the strictest controls.
When to use which
Use ACH for recurring, batched, cost-sensitive money movement. Use a wire when the amount is large and the timing is non-negotiable — a real-estate close, an auction cutoff. On DigitalTreasury both are the same payment order, so the rail is a field, not a second integration — and wires default to dual approval.
What is ACH?
The batch network that moves most US bank-to-bank money — how credits, debits and returns actually work.
What is RTP (real-time payments)?
Instant, always-on, and final — how real-time payments change what a payout can feel like.
What is a book transfer?
Money that never leaves the platform — instant, free, and still fully double-entry.